March 24, 2008
Passion
We all have things we’re passionate about. Animal rights…Children’s Rights…Politics…Basketball….whatever. That one thing that makes us drool…or whatever :)
When it comes to writing we also have our passion.
Recently at our RWA meeting a published author commented that readers want more than (dare I say it?) just sex. Apparently it’s not just me. I’ll be frank, one of the things I loved about Once in a Blue Moon was that there was more….and the sex served a purpose (beyond titillation). I don’t think you have to have page after page after page of sex and sexual tension and sexual angst and a touch o plot to hold it all together.
Cause, honestly folks, after a while it leaves me….raw and kinda bored. Needless to say, as a writer, if I’m bored, then you’re going to be bored too. That said, I love sex, but I need more.
For me that something more is small towns (don’t laugh)–specifically small Southern towns. So much so I’ve written nearly 50 pages on a new proposal. And by the time you read this, I’ll probably have passed it. It’s a big fat juicy book too. I’ve got tons of notes, a list of books a friend recommended and a one page bible of names and backstory I’ll be adding to as the days go by (sadly I have no idea how it ends which is going to make writing a synopsis kinda tricky!).
The bottom line is…you’ve got to LOVE what you write. Regardless of whether it sells (to NY or other places)
So, what are you passionate about when it comes to writing, or reading….or life :) 
Jeez, I’m here everyday.
Anyway, to answer the question, I’m passionate about memorable characters, writing and reading about them. I want to write characters that I think about even after I write THE END. I go back to books that makes me want to visit the characters again and again. That’s why I read and that’s what made me want to be a writer.
Heck Mel you practically live here–we don’t mind
And I agree on the character thing…it’s a biggie for me. As a reader AND a writer.
Mel, you do realize you’ll have to start paying rent?
Passionate about…
Loving animals (obviously).
Being true to who I am.
And in reading, books that have the power to take me completely out of my world and into theirs, whether via characters, an author’s voice (especially), or a plot that grabs me and won’t let go until the end.
I have to agree on the animals….I’d have a dozen cats if I could get away with it
*writes out Mel’s rent bill*
I’lll just have to ditto everything you’ve all said. Cece I was going to blog, eventually on a related topic, given some of my recent reading experiences. Characters are number one with me, gotto feel for them and think about them, even after the book is ended.
Characters, characters characters….Out of everything you have written Rowdy is the one for me. He stands out.
Also is it believable? Can I relate?
Hmmm…passion. I kinda don’t remember what that is. *shrugs*
Great post, Cece. And don’t mind me. Ooooh! Smileys! I’m passionate about smileys. :D 
hell if I can remember anymore…
give me a few days now that spring break is over and maybe I will remember!
Pay rent?
Well, if you can provide the cabana boys I won’t complain. Much.
*Smacks Emma*
Melissa we got Cabana Boys!
Hollie he’s one of mine too!!!!
It’s all about the characters for me. I just finished reading another book (It’s the same contest I talked about last week) where the characters were pretty flat, like stick people. There was nothing there. The only reason I finished the book is because I had to for the contest.
It’s all about the characters. Do they have a story I can buy and get into? Do they encite real emotional response from me? If so, I’m all over it.
Cece, I too am all about small southern towns. Jeez, could this be our upbringing coming back to haunt us?
Characters with an easy going humorous connection between them appeal to me more than their sexual escapades. A real turn off is Tanya’s ’stick people’, where two plastic, one dimensional cardboard cutouts supposedly can’t keep their hands off each other. :)